Cook’s Fresh Market will stay open at 1600 Glenarm Place, despite a dispute with the building’s landlord, which had attempted to terminate the lease.
A Denver District Court judge issued a judgment Monday in favor of JanJan Inc., the corporate name for Cook’s Fresh owner Ed Janos, who sued Glenarm Residential LLC, the company represented by landlord RedPeak Properties, for what JanJan believed to be a breach of contract of the lease.
“The judge agreed with us that Glenarm Residential does not have the right to terminate our lease,” Janos said. “We’re happy, ecstatic, and looking forward to another 15 years in downtown Denver. It’s a happy day at Cook’s Fresh Market and in the Janos house.”
Neither Mike Zoellner, RedPeak’s representative, nor his lawyer, Paul Lopach of Bryan Cave HRO, could be reached for comment.
The legal food fight emanated from a disagreement between the two parties over Glenarm Residential’s right to terminate the lease because, among other allegations, the grocer didn’t fulfill a fourth-year requirement to produce a minimum of $2 million in sales.
Janos claimed he was leased the space by Glenarm Residential at a rate that was significantly under market value in exchange for the store to be used as a carrot to lure renters to the 300-plus units above Cook’s Fresh, an assertion Glenarm denied.
To emphasize its assumption that it had the right to reclaim the place, Glenarm Residential hired a commercial real estate broker to market the 5,300-square-foot space as a restaurant site for lease at $45 a square foot, a significantly higher lease rate than what Janos said he was paying.
The judge found Glenarm Residential’s attempt to terminate was invalid and that the landlord breached the lease in raising Janos’ rental rate. Glenarm has the right to appeal the judgment.
Jinx?
Colorado’s governor dodged going to the Broncos game Sunday but not because he wasn’t supportive and interested.
Gov. John Hickenlooper explained Monday to a roomful of business, economic-development and legislative leaders that he decided watching the playoff game at home was the safest approach. It seems he attended two recent Broncos games that ended with losses, and “wild horses couldn’t get me to the game,” he said.
“People called me all day Saturday, saying, ‘Hey, I’ve got tickets. You gotta go,’ ” Hickenlooper said. “I watched the game at home.”
Taste tempting.
Denver Restaurant Week diners looking for a sneak peek of the menus that will be offered Feb. 25 through March 9 can go to and click on “like.” All “likers” will be notified via Facebook when the menus go live starting at 4 p.m. Jan. 17.
This will be the eighth annual Denver Restaurant Week, with nearly 300 eateries offering multicourse meals for $52.80 for two or $26.40 for one, not including tax and tip. The main website, , will go live Jan. 20.
Communications queen.
Devany McNeill, who made her first mark on LoDo as co-owner of Wines Off Wynkoop, has returned to her old ‘hood as communications director for the LoDo District Inc.
McNeill opened the boutique wine store in 1996, and sold it to business partner Jed Rulon-Miller in 2002.
She took on various independent projects, including helping with opening events for Macy’s in Cherry Creek mall.
On the LoDo District staff, McNeill joins events coordinator Jenna Willey and executive director Holly Barrett.
Eavesdropping
on Facebook: “What do you call
64 men sitting
at home watching
the Broncos beat
the Pats next
weekend? The
Pittsburgh
Steelers.”
Penny Parker’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.
